Combined motion picture projector and sound reproducing apparatus



April 19, 1932. F' W NS COMBINED MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR AND SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1929 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES TENT FREEMAN H. OWENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO OWENS DEVELOPMENT GOR- A oonronn 'rron or new rom:

COMBINED MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR ANDSOUNI) REPRODUCTNG APPARATUS Application filed May 28,

apparatus of this character in which a sound reproducing unit is used for reproducing a photographic sound record as well as sounds other than those recorded.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The drawing accompanying this specification is a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, parts broken away for clearness of illustration.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a motion picture projector, which may be of any standard construction provided with a photographic sound reproducing attachment comprising essentially a light source 2, a lens 3, a gate 4 having a slit past which a film 5 moves, a photo electric cell 6, an amplifier 7 and a loud speaker 8, the output of the photo electric cell being connected by wires 9 with the amplifier, while the output of the latter is connected by wires 10 with the loud speaker in the usual manner. It will be understood, of course, that the film may be provided with a sound record located so as to be movable past the slit for reproduction by theloud speaker, as well as with motion pictures disposed in position to be projected on to the screen 11. All of the apparatus above described is well known in the art and it is believed that this description is therefore suflicient.

The present invention contemplates the provision, in combination with the apparatus above described, of means whereby, in the event that there is no sound record on the film, or in the event that the sound record on the film is of such character as to make it desirable to have additional sound reproduced therewith, broadcast radio signals may be utilized for this purpose. As shown herein, this means comprises a lamp 12 disposed within the housing of the photo electric cell, said lamp being connected by wires 13 with a radio receiving apparatus 14:. In the circuit from the radio receiving apparatus and 1929. Serial No. 366,641.

the lamp l2 is included a switch 15, whereby said circuit canbe closed oropene'd at will."

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that when the circuittothe radio receiving set is closed, the signals received by said set will be imp'ressed'oirthe current tothe lan' p 12, thereby modulating the intensity of the latter to correspond with the received signals, so that saidsignals are translated into varying light intensitiesfivhich will activate the photo electric cell and thus be translated into electrical impulses, which finally are amplified by the amplifier and rendered audible by the loud speaker. If the film is provided with a sound record suitable in itself as an accompaniment for the pictures being projected, the switch 15 will be opened, thus breaking the circuit including the radio set, so that the sound record on the film may be reproduced in the ordinary manner by the sound attachment. If, however, there is no sound record on the picture film, the radio set may be utilized to furnish a musical accompaniment, by merely closing the switch. Moreover, it may be that the film is provided with sound and picture records of such character as to make it desirable to add a musical accompaniment. In such case, all that is necessary is to close the switch 15 and tune the radio until a suitable musical selection is received. It is thus evident that by the provision of the second lamp 12 disposed with relation to the photo electric cell approximately as shown 1n the drawing a single unit comprising the cell, amplifier and loud speaker may be used for reproducing both the sound record on the film and the radio signals.

While I have illustrated and described herein a radio receiving apparatus as the means by which the additional sounds may be supplied, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular means, since it is entirely conceivable that other means, such for instance as the human voice operating through a microphone, may be used to produce sound Waves for varying the intensity of the lamp 12 thereby to activate the photo electric cell and thus reproduce the desired sounds.

Ice

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising in combination, a photographic sound reproducing unit for translating and 5 reproducing recorded sounds and including a photo-electric cell, a radio receiving apparatus, and means including a lamp adapted for intensity modulation by the output of said apparatus, and means for selectively using said cell for the translation of radio signals from said apparatus and signals from said unit.

2. An apparatus of the character described colnprising in combination, a photographic sound reproducing unit including a light sensitive element and means for focusing light rays through a photographic sound record on to said element, a radio receiving ap paratus, a lamp disposed in position to emit 2Q rays of light on said light sensitive element, and means for placing said lamp in circuit With said radio receiving apparatus.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREEMAN H. OWENS. 

